Collector stand

ABSTRACT

A collector stand for a solar collector, including a frame adapted to be secured to the solar collector, a cylindrical end cap secured to the frame and adapted to be sleeved over the upper end of a mounting post for the solar collector, and structure securing the frame to the post in a location in spaced relation to the end cap. In one embodiment, the stand is adjustable so that the angle which the solar collector makes with the mounting post may be varied.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to stands for solar collectors, and refers morespecifically to a frame adapted to be secured to a solar collector, anend cap secured to the frame which is adapted to be sleeved over one endof a post for supporting the solar collector, and means for securing theframe to the post in spaced relation to the end cap.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the past, stands for solar collectors and the like have sometimesincluded members adapted to be sleeved over a mounting post for securingthe solar collectors in place. Such prior members have extendedsubstantially the entire exposed length of the mounting post. Suchstructure has necessitated the lifting of the solar collectorssubstantially as high as the mounting post therefor before thecylindrical members of the collector stand are sleeved over the post.Such installation is extremely difficult or impossible without heavyequipment and/or a plurality of workmen when dealing with large solarcollectors and/or during windy periods. At any time, such collectorstands require the expending of more time and energy to install solarcollectors on a mounting post than is necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a stand for mountinga solar collector on a mounting post which includes a frame adapted tobe secured to the solar collector, a cylindrical end cap secured to theframe centrally of the solar collector, and means secured to the framein spaced relation to the solar collector for abutting the mounting postin spaced relation to the end cap.

In one embodiment of the collector stand of the invention, the collectorstand is adjustable so that the angle between the solar collector andthe mounting post therefor may be varied.

With the collector stand structure of the invention, the solar collectorand stand need be raised during installation of the solar collector onthe mounting post only high enough so that the end cap will fit over theupper end of the mounting post.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a solar collector mounted on a mountingpost therefor by a collector stand constructed in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevation view of the solar collector, collectorstand and mounting post therefore shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial section view of the collector stand structure andmounting post illustrated in FIG. 2, taken substantially on the line3--3 in FIG 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial section view of the collector stand structureillustrated in FIG. 2, taken substantially on the line 4--4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a partial section view of the collector stand structureillustrated in FIG. 2, taken substantially on the line 5--5 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the collector stand structure illustratedin FIG. 2, taken substantially in the direction of arrow 6 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of a modification of the collector standillustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a partial section view of the modified collector standstructure illustrated in FIG. 7, taken substantially on the line 8--8 inFIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a partial section view of the modified collector standstructure illustrated in FIG. 7, taken substantially on the line 9--9 inFIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The collector stand 10 shown best in FIG. 2 is utilized to efficientlysecure a solar collector 12 to a mounting post 14 therefor.

The collector stand 10 includes a frame 16 adapted to be secured to thesolar collector 12, an end cap 18 adapted to be secured to the frame 16and to be sleeved over the upper end 20 of the mounting post 14, andmeans 22 for securing the frame 16 to the mounting post 14 in spacedrelation to the end cap 18.

More specifically, the frame 16 includes upper and lower parallelcollector angle iron members 24 and 26, respectively, adapted to besecured by convenient means such as bolts or welding (not shown) to thesolar collector structure 12. Frame 16 further includes the post angleiron member 28 extending adjacent to and in parallel relation with thepost 14. An upper channel iron member 30, best shown in FIG. 5, issecured to the end cap 18 at one end thereof and to the upper collectorangle iron member 24 at the other end thereof by convenient means suchas welding. Upper bracing angle iron members 32 and 34 are also securedto the end cap 18 at one end thereof and to the upper collector angleiron member 24 at the other end thereof in spaced relation to the otherend of the upper channel iron member 30, as shown best in FIG. 4. Alower channel iron member 36 extends from the semi-cylindrical abutmentmember 46 of the means 22 for securing the frame 16 to the post 14 atone end to the lower collector angle iron member 26 at the other end.The lower bracing angle iron members 38 and 40, as best shown in FIG. 6,extend from the semi-cylindrical abutment member 46 at one end to thelower angle iron member 26 at the other end thereof in spaced relationto the other end of the lower channel iron member 36. Again, the lowerchannel iron and bracing angle iron members are secured to the lowercollector angle iron member 26 and to the abutment member 46 byconvenient means such as welding. Central bracing angle iron members 42and 44 extend from the post angle iron member at one end substantiallycentrally thereof to the lower collector angle iron member 26 at theirother ends adjacent the other ends of the lower bracing angle ironmembers, as shown best in FIG. 6.

The end cap 18 is a cylindrical member adapted to fit over the end 20 ofthe mounting post 14 and is closed at the upper end 21 thereof. The endcap 18 is rigidly secured to the adjacent ends of the upper channel ironand bracing angle iron members and to the upper end of the post angleiron member by convenient means such as welding.

The means 22 for securing the frame 16 to the mounting post 14 in spacedrelation to the end cap 18 includes the semi-cylindrical abutment member46 which again may be welded to the adjacent ends of the post angle ironmember and the lower channel and bracing angle iron members. The means22 further includes the collar 48 which extends around the post 14 andthe semi-cylindrical abutment member 46, as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3.The collar 48 is secured in position by convenient means such as bolt50.

In the modification of the collector stand 10, illustrated in FIGS. 7-9,wherein similar parts are provided with similar reference numerals, apivot connection 52 is provided between the end cap 18 and the securedtogether ends of the post angle iron member 28 and the upper channeliron and bracing angle iron members 30, 32, 34, as shown in detail inFIGS. 7 and 8. Further, in the embodiment of the invention illustratedin FIGS. 7-9, an adjustable connection is provided between the frame 16at the bottom thereof and the semicylindrical abutment member 46 bymeans of a bracket 54 secured to the bottom of the frame 16 and anelongated arcuate bracket 56 secured to the semicylindrical abutmentmember 46 which brackets 54 and 56 may be connected in variablepositions of the solar collector with respect to the mounting post byconvenient means such as the bolt 58.

With the collector stand of the invention, when it is desired to mountthe solar collector 12 on the post 14, the frame 16 is produced with theend cap 18 and the abutment member 46 secured thereto, and is secured tothe solar collector 12. It is then necessary to lift the solar collector12 with the frame attached thereto only high enough so that thecylindrical end portion of the end cap 18 is sleeved over the end 20 ofthe mounting post 14. At this time, the weight of the solar collector 12will urge the abutment member 46 into engagement with the mounting post14 at a point in spaced relation with end cap 18 due to the end capbeing higher than the center of gravity of the solar collector. However,if it is desired to more securely fasten the frame 16 to the post 14,the collar 48 may be installed.

If, as indicated above, it is considered desirable to vary the anglebetween the solar collector 12 and the mounting post 14 periodically,the modification of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7-9 is installedin the same manner. In use, when it is desired to change the angle ofthe solar collector 12, the bolt 58 is removed and the solar collectoris pivoted about the pivot connection 52 to align desired openings inthe brackets 54 and 56 and the bolt 58 is repositioned in the newlyaligned openings.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been considered indetail, together with a modification thereof, it will be understood thatother embodiments and modifications of the invention are contemplated.It is the intention to include all the embodiments and modifications ofthe invention as are defined by the appended claims within the scope ofthe invention.

We claim:
 1. A vertical post, one end of which is stationarily mounted,a solar collector positioned adjacent said post and at an oblique anglethereto, a frame secured to the collector including a pair of parallelcollector angle iron members fastened to the collector, the lower ofwhich is positioned adjacent the lower edge of the collector and theupper of which is positioned above the center of gravity of thecollector, a post angle iron member extending adjacent to and parallelto the post, an upper iron channel member extending between the upperend of the post angle iron member at one end and the upper collectorangle iron member at the other end, a pair of upper angle iron bracingmembers extending at one end from the upper end of the post angle ironmember to the upper collector angle iron member at the other end inspaced relation to the other end of the upper channel iron member, abottom channel iron member extending at one end from the other end ofthe post angle iron member to the lower collector angle iron member atthe other end thereof, a pair of lower angle iron bracing membersextending at one end from the lower end of the post angle iron member tothe lower collector angle iron member at the other end thereof in spacedrelation to the other end of the lower channel iron member, and a pairof central angle iron bracing members extending from the post angle ironmember at one end to the lower collector angle iron member at the otherend adjacent to the other end of the lower angle iron bracing members anend cap in the form of a cylinder closed at one end secured to the frameadjacent the upper end of the post angle iron member and sleeved overthe upper end of the post, a semi-cylindrical abutment member secured tothe other end of the post angle iron member adapted to abut the post inspaced relation to the end cap, and a collar securing thesemi-cylindrical abutment member to the post.
 2. Structure as set forthin claim 1, wherein the end cap and the semi-cylindrical member arerigidly secured to the opposite ends of the post angle iron member. 3.Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the end cap is pivotallysecured to the upper end of the post angle iron member and thesemi-cylindrical abutment member is adjustably secured to the frame inspaced relation to the end cap.
 4. A stand for a solar collector or thelike for securing a solar collector to a post, comprising a frameadapted to be secured to the solar collector, an end cap secured to theframe adapted to be fitted over the end of the post, and means forsecuring the frame to the post at the point in spaced relation to theend cap, wherein the frame comprises an upper and lower parallelcollector angle iron member adapted to be secured to the solarcollector, as post angle iron member adapted to extend parallel to andadjacent the post, an upper channel iron member extending between theend cap at one end and the upper collector angle iron member at theother end centrally of the collector structure, two upper angle ironbracing members extending from the one end of the upper channel ironmember at one end to the upper collector angle iron member at the otherend in spaced relation to the other end of the upper channel ironmember, a lower channel iron member extending between the means forsecuring the frame to the post at one end and the lower collector angleiron member at the other end, a pair of lower bracing channel ironmembers extending from said one end of the lower channel iron member tothe lower collector channel iron member in spaced relation to the otherend of the lower channel iron member, and a pair of central angle ironbracing members extending at one end from the post angle iron membercentrally thereof to the lower collector angle iron member adjacent theother ends of the lower angle iron bracing members, all of said channeliron and angle iron members being rigidly secured together.